Dera steps into the spotlight as Black Diamond’s newest torchbearer, carrying the imprint of Wande Coal’s legacy. And with Deragon, his debut project, he announces himself and unfurls a sonic banner, coloured in melody, vulnerability, and ambition. Across six records, Dera builds a world where his voice is both compass and currency, guiding listeners through familiar Afro-Pop terrain but with a freshness that feels wholly his.
The journey begins with “Saroje”, a record that feels like opening a curtain to soft morning light. Dera glides over the mellow instrumental as though his emotions were fine silk laid across the beat. His declarations of devotion spending on love anytime, any day are rendered with a tenderness that makes the mundane feel ceremonial. “Sade” leans into that purity even more. The mid-tempo rhythm, dusted gently with percussion, becomes a stage for Dera’s voice to glow. Here, vulnerability acts as the marrow of the music as his tone cradles every lyric, and the track unfolds like a confession whispered into cupped hands.
The drums crack open the air on “Aquafina", instantly shifting the room into party mode. Dera morphs from soft crooner to full-fledged showman, proving the range in his technicality. The track is a whirl of energy, the kind of song that grabs the night by the waist and refuses to let go. On “Any Other Day”, he stays in the uptempo lane but turns his gaze inward. Heavy kicks become the canvas upon which he paints the realities of ambition and the quiet desperation for financial freedom. His voice is a lot more tuned, textured, and resolute and feels like an entry delivered with melodic fire, both weary and hopeful.
“Daily” featuring Jeriq brings Amapiano into the fold like a long-awaited guest. This is where Dera’s Wande Coal influence becomes unmistakable. The log drums pulse beneath his velvety melodies, creating a soundscape that is both familiar and revitalized. Jeriq enters like a storm, adding grit to the gloss, his rap verse turning the track into a feast where every layer offers something hearty. The EP closes with “Police”, a finale built on flute motifs that swirl like morning air before heavy drums crash in. The pace is relentless, the groove contagious. Dera stands at the centre of the chaos, asserting his lifestyle and unshakeable position with a charisma that refuses to dim. Even the titular “Police” cannot disrupt the swagger of his momentum.
In its entirety, Deragon feels like a coronation in motion, six tracks that shape Dera more than a newcomer, but an artist already carving out his dominion. The project is rooted in melody, elevated by intention, and delivered with a voice that understands both softness and strength. For an EP, the sequencing is remarkably well-curated. The slow-to-fast pacing makes a strong structural choice that eases listeners in with warmth and vulnerability before gradually accelerating into high-energy terrain, allowing the project to carefully unfold. The intentionality in that progression feels almost cinematic, ensuring the listener’s attention is not only held at all times. By the time the final note fades, one thing is unmistakably clear: Dera is ready to take his spot.
